Topic: We have got to build one of these!!

[Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes.]

Check it out gang

Robo-Auto-Lego Developing machine

Please someone tell me they have enough lego to build this 

[Chris A Fraser]

My son has LOTS of Lego!!! I was also just thinking this weekend that perhaps I could build a drum rotating base for developing 8X10 negs.

[Ed Wenn]

Well clearly, we have the brain power within the FW Hive Mind to get this done (I'm thinking Francois could handle this by himself actually...in fact I think he may even have posted this link or something like it previously). What is even more exciting it that Chris's son is going to donate all of his Lego to get the project up and running; well done Master Fraser 

[Francois]

From memory, the guy built it using the Lego NXT controller which greatly simplifies the build.
I was thinking more along the lines of using an arduino, but this makes things a bit harder.
I've had a plan in my head for quite some time. I'm just lacking the guts/space/resources to put it all together (which bums me to no end).

[SLVR]

I played a little bit with lego mindstorms when I was a kid. (though we couldn't afford it) I'm sure you could use something like that. Or is the NXT controller the same thing?

[Francois]

The NXT controller is a simple to program module that's put out by Lego. It uses a language that's pretty close to MIT's Scratch (hence entirely modular and graphical when it comes to using commands)


But now, they have a new better version called the EV3

[rotarysmp]

This is basically a crude two axis CNC machine. The cheapest way to do it would be with linuxcnc or turbo cnc (free software) on any old computor from a pentium 1 up,

- a cheap break out board
 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/CNC-5-Axis-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Interface-Breakout-Board-usb-support-MACH3-EMC2-/221357309693?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3389ec7efd
,
This set
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2Axis-CNC-Nema-17-Stepper-Motor-70oz-in-2-5A-1-7A-12-36VDC-128-driver-Sewing-/140958054534?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20d1c13886

 a hacked ATX PSU.

You could savage the motion hardware from any old printer or scanner. No fancy motion hardware would be needed, just a sled with a few wheels and  plastic or wooden rails. For the accuracy required, a simple loop of wire or string driven by the motor could position the sled.

Name the cross axis X, and the up down Y (actually Z would be better). Put a pulley with string wrapped around it on the second stepper.

For normal B&W development, the whole code would be as simple as follows:

(Assuming X0 Y0 as starting point)

G0 X5
G0 Y-5 (Dunk in prewash tank)
G4 P30 (Dwell 30 sec)
G0 Y0 (Retract spool)
G0 X10 (Move to developer)
o103 repeat [18] (Change this number for how many Half minutes of developing time)
G0 Y-5 (Dunk)
G4 P30 (Dwell 30 Sec)
G0 Y-4 (Lift to agitatate - you could add a couple of lines here for more aggitatation)
G0 Y-5 (Dunk again)
o103 endrepeat
G0 X15 (Move to Stopbath)
G0 Y-5 (Dunk in stopbathtank)
G4 P30 (Dwell 30  sec)
G0 Y0 (Retract spool)
G0 X20 (Move to fixer)
o103 repeat [5] (Change this number for how many Half minutes of fixing time)
G0 Y-5 (Dunk)
G4 P30 (Dwell 30 Sec)
G0 Y-4 (Lift to agitatate - you could add a couple of lines here for more aggitatation)
G0 Y-5 (Dunk again)
o103 endrepeat
G0 Y0 (Retract spool)
G0 X25 ( Move to drip poistion)
G4 P 120 (Drip for two minutes
G0 X0 (Return to start)
M2 program end.

[Terry]

I am convinced that Francois has three of these in his basement...

[Francois]

Sadly, I never got the controller bricks... 

[Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes.]

So have we built the bloody thing yet? All this talk and me with rolls of unprocessed film baking up.

Aren't some of the W's Project Managers in another life?

Lets go team!

 

 

[charles binns]

A brilliant contraption. 

Now somebody needs to tell the inventor to switch off the lights when developing film.